Signature · 88.2% low-access (97th pct)
Sierra County, CA
Sierra County sits in the upper national band on low-access (88.2%, +66.1 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.
- 88.2%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 9.8%
- on SNAP
- 3K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Sierra County, CA
LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-SEVERE 88.2% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +66.1 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 9.8% SNAP
- VEH-OK 6.5% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Mono County ( -31.1 pts)
Upper-band low-access
Sierra County sits in the upper national band (88.2%, #84 of 3,079).
- #84
- national by low-access %
- #1
- in CA
- 1
- low-access tracts
- 804
- food-desert residents
Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.
Signature read: 88.2% low-access (97th pct) (+66.1 pts vs U.S. low-access).
How Sierra County compares nationally
Sierra County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 88.2% low-access share outpaces 97% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #84 most-affected nationwide.
Sierra County's elevated USDA tier split
1 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
All 1 of Sierra County's tracts are rural in the USDA classification, so every one is judged on the 10-mile test: a resident counts as low-access only when the nearest supermarket is more than 10 miles away.
Sierra County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in California, not a full county-board reprint
- Sierra
Sierra 88.2%
88.2 % low-access
- Mono
Mono 57.1%
57.1 % low-access
- Alpine
Alpine 57%
57 % low-access
- Modoc
Modoc 40.5%
40.5 % low-access
- Colusa
Colusa 39.3%
39.3 % low-access
- Amador 0.2
Amador 0.2%
0.2 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 1 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 3,240 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 2,859 |
| Low-Access Share | 88.2%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 804 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 2,746 |
| Median Household Income | $63,355 |
| Poverty Rate | 4.4%well below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 119 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 9.8%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.5%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.8% |
Slim SNAP store book in Sierra County
Sierra County has 5 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 3 locations (60% of the total), followed by large grocery store.
Where the store book sits, by town
4 towns share the 5 authorized stores; Loyalton holds 40% of them. 3 of the 4 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Downieville, Sierra City, Sierraville.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Loyalton | 2 | 1 |
| Downieville | 1 | none |
| Sierra City | 1 | none |
| Sierraville | 1 | none |
Convenience Store · 3
- downieville grocery ln, downieville
- sierraville service & country store, sierraville
- white sierra station, loyalton
Large Grocery Store · 1
- leonards markets, loyalton
Small Grocery Store · 1
- sierra country store, sierra city
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in California
One of 57 counties in California, 6 are shown here.
Compare Sierra County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
California among Pacific states
California ranks 5th of 5 Pacific states by population-weighted low-access (13.3%). Sierra County, at 88.2%, runs 74.9 pts above the California rate.
- Alaska 30.9%
- Hawaii 26.7%
- Washington 23.1%
- Oregon 16.9%
- California 13.3%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
Read with this county
Sources: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019) · U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates · methodology · compiled .
PlainFoodAccess renders this county profile directly from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates), no number is typed in by an editor. Figures for Sierra County, CA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 06091. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-06-23. Primary sources: USDA Food Access Research Atlas and Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Note: This page presents public USDA and Census data for informational purposes and is not professional advice. Figures reflect the cited dataset vintages and may differ from the most recent local conditions. How this data is sourced & verified.